I don't know why this is such a surprise. Republicans want to banish anybody who's different from them: blacks, gays, trans, liberals, strong and independent women, anybody with a shred of empathy.
Republicans saying the quiet part out loud doesn't really change anything.
I'm sorry that you had to go through what you did. I left Christianity behind over 20 years ago for various reasons. I've since just been happy embracing the ineffable.